74 Sermon Illustrations on Christian Life

Warren W. Wiersbe relates that one day he was scanning the shelves in a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he discovered a volume out of place. It was in the "Religion" section, but the title of the book was The Art of Interior Decorating. He started to remove the book, but then it dawned on him that the volume was just where it belonged. For, after all, isn't that what the Christian faith is all about-interior decorating? "I can't think of a better description of the Christian life than 'interior decorating.'" he commented. "You see, the Bible emphasizes the fact that each of us has an 'inner man'-the real person down inside. The body may change and decay and even die, but the 'real you'down inside will live forever."

In his early remarks during what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes His disciples as "the salt of the earth." Notice this verse carefully: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matthew 5:13). Jesus takes it for granted that all understood the uselessness of salt that is incapable of preserving and flavoring. "Throw it away!" is His advice for useless salt. The application to Christians is clearly seen. God put us here to preserve and flavor His world. If we are not doing that, what good are we to Him or others? In A.D. 252, a killing plague swept through the North African city of Carthage. The heathens threw the dead in the streets and fled the city in fear for their lives. Cyprian, leader of the church in Carthage, marshaled the saints and they began burying the dead and nursing the sick. Their action saved the city and thrust the church into prominence in the minds of its citizens. Good people are salting the earth and preserving the creation of God. They are lighting the world and glorifying the God who made it. I have a question: If we are not salting this earth and lighting this world, then why are we here?

The Bishop of Cambridge once taught a class. He said, "We have all learned to say in school: 'First Person-I; Second Person-You; Third Person-He.' But that is wrong in Christian grammar, so wrong that, to put it right, one has to turn it upside down. The Christian grammar is: 'First Person-He; Second Person-You; Third Person-I,' and 'He' means God, the First Person in the first place. Then 'You' means one's fellowman, and 'I' myself comes last."

Benjamin Franklin wanted to interest the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his house. He kept the glass polished and carefully trimmed and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. The lamp helped the people see the pavement ahead; made them feel more secure at night. Others began placing lights in front of their houses. Soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lights. Be the one today to light up your neighborhood with the light of life. Let it shine. Let your light shine TODAY!

A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where lights are placed?" "What has that to do with it?" the young Christian asked him rather bluntly. "Never mind," the minister replied. "Answer my question: 'Where are lights placed?'" "I suppose in dark places," she replied. "Yes, and that is why you have been put in that factory where there is such spiritual darkness and where there is no other Christian to shine for the Lord." The young Christian realized for the first time the opportunity that was hers. She felt she could not fail God by allowing her light to go out. She went back to the factory with renewed determination to let her light shine in that dark corner. Before long, she was the means of leading nine other girls to the Light. The Chameleon Some of you have seen a lizard called the chameleon. Certain chameleons can quickly change color, and even develop spots and streaks that seem to be part of their background. They can turn green, gray or brown if they are standing on a green, gray or brown background. Those of us who love the Lord Jesus should "show our colors"-let others know you belong to the Lord. Do not be like the chameleon who changes color with his surroundings. If you have to be with unsaved girls and boys at school and in other places, do not act as they do and do naughty things. Let others know you are different because you have a new life! The Christian's Gauge If you visit any large foundry where the boilers are kept going at full force, you would never be able to look into a boiler to tell how much water there is in it, but you would be able to tell how much water the boiler contains by an instrument which is attached to the side of the boiler. Alongside is a small glass tube which has some fluid in it. If this glass tube is half full of liquid, then there is an indication that the boiler is half full of water; if the glass gauge indicated that there is no water in the glass, then we can depend that there is no water in the boiler. The little glass gauge is the indicator for the large boiler. How can people tell whether we love God, our fellowman, or even ourselves? They can never look within our hearts and get the answer; it is only by our outward actions, the works that we do as Christians that people are able to tell how much or how little our religion amounts to. Our love for God is indicated by the works of love in which we engage. There are people who are constantly looking at the Christian's gauge. A Youth's One-Time Visit "I refused a date to the movies, choosing rather to go to the Wednesday night prayer meeting. "When I arrived, I looked for several people who were important to me. "I looked for my Sunday school teacher-but he was not there. I looked for the familiar faces of a couple of deacons whom I knew-but they were not there. I looked for several of the members who seemed to be spiritually real and who had greeted me warmly at the Sunday morning services-but they were not there. "Perhaps, these Christian friends do not think the Wednesday night services are so very important. I guess next Wednesday night I will go to the movies." Was this young man from your church? The Way Your Child Should Go Abraham Lincoln's comment, made when talking to a father who was chagrined and embarrassed because his 17-year-old son had begun to indulge in liquor, is most convincing: "Well, there is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go, and that is to travel the way yourself." A Christian's Reputation The story is told of Gordon Maxwell, missionary to India, that when he asked a Hindu scholar to teach him the language, the Hindu replied: "No, Sahib, I will not teach you my language. You would make me a Christian." Gordon Maxwell replied, "You misunderstand me. I am simply asking you to teach me your language." Again the Hindu responded, "No, Sahib, I will not teach you. No man can live with you and not become a Christian." Gordon Maxwell's reputation as a Christian preceded him. His very lifestyle attracted people to Christ. And so it was with the Apostle Paul and his two missionary companions, Silas and Timothy. Saint Francis of Assisi captured their philosophy of evangelism when he said, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless we preach as we walk!" A Drunkard Speaks to a Drinking Christian A young lady went to a rescue mission to help out with the inquirers who would respond to the Gospel. As she approached one derelict in order to help him make a decision for Christ, he said to her, "Do you play cards, or dance, or go to the theater, or drink socially?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk to me; but I will not listen to one word from you fine Christian folks who are doing on a small scale the very things that brought me a poor wretch to where I am." This young Christian woman later confessed that she had greater joy in leading that young man to Christ than the exercise of all the pleasures that many Christians hold on to simply because they have not yet been ruined by them.

When Lord Peterborough lodged for a season with Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambray, he was so delighted with his piety and virtue, that he exclaimed at parting, "If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself!"

I have no faith in that woman who talks of grace and glory abroad, and uses no soap at home. Let the buttons be on the shirts, let the children's socks be mended, let the roast mutton be done to a turn, let the house be as neat as a new pin, and the home be as happy as home can be; and then, when the cannon-balls, and the marbles, and the shots, and even the grains of sand, are all in the box, even then, there will be room for those little deeds of love and faith, which, in my Master's name, I seek of you who love his appearing. Serve God by doing common actions in a heavenly spirit, and then, if your daily calling only leaves you cracks and crevices of time, fill them up with holy service. Spurgeon.

It is related of Bishop Usher and Dr. Preston, that before they parted, one said to the other, "Come, good doctor, let us talk now a little of Jesus Christ." Or the doctor said, "Come, my lord bishop, let me hear your grace talk of the goodness of God with your wonted eloquence; let us warn each other's hearts with heaven, that we may the better hear this cold world."

"Among whom yo shine as lights in the world" (Phil. ii. 15). The image here is, not improbably, taken from lighthouses on a seacoast. As those lighthouses are placed on a dangerous coast to apprise vessels of their peril, and to save them from shipwreck, so the light of Christian piety shines on a dark world, and on the dangers of the voyage which we are making. Barnes.

As a burning candle in a man’s hand gives light to him, and to all that are in and around the house; or as he that is perfumed cannot keep the odor to himself: so such as have the knowledge of God have not only comfort themselves, but they are a comfort and a light to the Church and a light also to pagans and infidels. Cuedray.

A little girl, on being asked to tell what it was to live a Christian life, answered: “To live as Jesus would live, and to behave as He would, if He were a little girl and lived at our house.”

A bushelful of resolutions is of small value; a single grain of practice is worth the whole. A cake made of memories will do for a bite now and then, but it makes poor daily bread. A change of life alone can prove a change of heart. A Christian's life should be the decalogue written large.

My venerated grandmother owned a set of choice china, a part of which, I believe, is in use now. Why does it exist now? It has seen little service. It only came out on high days and holidays, say once in six months, when ministers and friends came to tea. It was a very nice set of old china, too good for children to break. Some Christians are like that fine old ware, it would not do to use them too often. They are too good for every day. They do not teach their servants, and try to win the poor people in their neighborhood to Christ. But they talk well at a conference. Oh! you fine bits of eggshell china, I know you. Don't fear. I am not going to break you; yet I would somewhat trouble you by the remark, that in the case of such ware as you are, more pieces get broken in the cupboard than on the table. You will last longer if you get to work for Christ in every day work. Jesus was not sent out for particular occasions, neither are you.

When one of our kings came back from captivity, as old chroniclers tell, there were fountains in Cheapside which flowed with wine. So bounteous was the king, and so glad the people, that instead of water, they made wine flow freely to everybody. There is a way of making our life so rich, so full, so blessed to our fellow men, that the metaphor may be applicable to us, and men may say that our life flows with wine when other men's lives flow with water. You have known some such men. John Howard's life was not like our poor, common lives: he was so benevolent, his sympathy with the race so self-denying, that the streams of his life were like generous wine. You have known personally, it may be, some eminent saint, one who lived very near to Jesus; when he talked, there was an unction and a savor about his words, a solidity and a strength about his utterances, which you could appreciate, though you could not attain unto it. You have sometimes said, "I wish my words were as full, as sweet, as mellow, and as unctuous as the words of such a one. Oh, I wish my actions were just as rich, had as deep a color, and as pure a taste, as the acts of some other. All I can do seems but little and empty when compared with his high attainments. Oh, that I could do more! Oh, that I could send streams of pure gold into every house instead of my poor dross!" Well, Christian, this should stimulate you to keep your heart full of rich things. Never, never neglect the Word of God; that will make your heart rich with precept, your head rich with understanding, and your bowels rich with compassion; then, your conversation, when it flows through your mouth, will be from your soul, and, like all that is within you, rich, unctuous, and savory. Only let your heart be full of sweet, generous love, and the stream that flows from your lips will be sweet and generous. Above all, get Jesus to live in your heart, and then out of you shall flow rivers of living water, more exhilarating, purer, and more satiating than the water of the well of Sychar of which Jacob drank. Go forth, with Christian, to the great mine of unsearchable riches, and cry unto the Holy Spirit to make your heart rich unto salvation. So shall your life and conversation be a boon to your fellows; and when they see you, your visage shall shine, and your face shall be as the angel of God.

A Christian is an unfailing spiritual Niagara, not a cow-track pool to be drunk dry by a thirsty sunbeam.

— F. F. SHANNON

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Dr. S. P. Henson says:

What a multitude of threads make up a fringe; and yet how beautiful and costly when completed! And here is found a beauty of the real Christian life. There are not a few who may be willing upon rare and notable occasions to do or suffer some great thing, but the ten thousand little things of life are entirely beneath their notice, as they also suppose them to be beneath the notice of the Lord. (Text.)

There’s one kind of an engine that’s always a nuisance to me, and that’s these little switching-engines down by the station. They run up and down side-tracks, shoving cars; and that’s all they do from week to week and from month to month. They’re always getting in the way of wagons and scaring horses. But when I see a grand locomotive start to the seacoast cities, there is music in her whistle. There is something which says she’s determined to land her passengers at their destination on time. There are a great many of us Christians just switching backward and forward on side-tracks.--“Famous Stories of Sam P. Jones.”

When before in history was there such an inexpensive order of preachers as these early helpers of Wesley? They laid up much treasure in heaven, but had very empty pockets on earth. One of them, John Lane, died at Epworth. His entire wardrobe was insufficient to pay his funeral expenses, which amounted to £1 17s. 3d. All the money he possest was 1s. 4d., “enough,” records Wesley briefly, “for any unmarried preacher of the gospel to leave to his executors.” (Text.)--W. H. FITCHETT, “Wesley and His Century.”

MY NEVER AGAIN LIST

First: Never again will I confess "I can't", for "I can do all things through Christ which Strengtheneth (energizes) me." \reference{Phil. 4:13}{Philippians 4:13}

Second: Never again will I confess lack, for "My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." \reference{Phil. 4:19}{Philippians 4:19}

Third: Never again will I confess fear, for "God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Tim. 1:7

Fourth: Never again will I confess doubt and lack of faith, for "God hath given to every man the measure of faith." \reference{Rom. 12:3}{Romans 12:3}

Fifth: Never again will I confess weakness, for "The Lord is the strength of my life." (\reference{Psalms 27:1}{Psalms 27:1}) and, "The people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits." \reference{Dan. 11:32}{Daniel 11:32}

Sixth: Never again will I confess supremacy of Satan over my life, for "Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world." I \reference{John 4:4}{John 4:4}

Seventh: Never again will I confess defeat, for "God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus." II Cor. 2:14 Eighth: Never again will I confess lack of wisdom, for "Christ

Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God." I Cor. 1:30 Ninth: Never again will I confess sickness, for "With His stripes I am healed" (\reference{Isa. 53:5}{Isaiah 53:5}), and, Jesus "Himself took my infirmities and bare my sickness." \reference{Matt. 8:17}{Matthew 8:17}

Tenth: Never again will I confess worries and frustrations, for I am "Casting all my cares upon Him who careth for me." I Peter 5:7

Eleventh: Never again will I confess bondage, for "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Cor. 3:17) My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit! I Cor. 6:19

Twelfth: Never again will I confess condemnation, for "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." \reference{Rom. 8:1}{Romans 8:1}I am in Christ; therefore, I am free from condemnation.

The Christian life is an exciting trip with more suspense than an

Alfred Hitchcock thriller, more action than a John Wayne western, more

drama than a Shakespearian play and more fun than a three-ring

circus. It's immersed in love, filled with laughter, and offers more

true reward than King Solomon's mines.

- Zig Ziglar

An incredible number of Christians believe in what Christ did for

them in the past. They believe what He's going to do for them in the

future. But for some reason, they don't believe He can do anything

for them now. No wonder, they think He represents only future

security, and their interest is in now benefits.

- Zig Ziglar

It's a pity more people can't travel the straight and narrow path

without becoming straight-laced and narrow minded.

- Unknown

It is said that D.L. Moody was once preaching to a great crowd and was

pouring out his very soul with great earnestness. After the service a

man who was a leader in one of the fashionable churches of the city,

and who had been on the platform while Moody spoke, went to the

evangelist and said, "By the way, I noticed that you made eleven

mistakes in grammar tonight." "I don't doubt it," said Moody. "My

early education was very faulty. I have often wished that I had

received more schooling. But I am using all the grammar I know in the

service of Christ. How is it with you?" The man had no answer.

("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg.72)

A minister was crossing a busy street in a great metropolis. With him

was his little three-year-old boy, who had confidently put his hand in

the hand of his father and felt no fear. There were many things to

see and the boy was trying to see them all. Just as they reached the

car tracks in the center of the street the boy, who was looking back

at something they had passed, stumbled. To stop would have been

fatal, for traffic was busy from both directions. For the next few

seconds the boy was swinging in the air with his feet badly mixed up.

Safe on the other side, he was let down to earth, and when he had

regained his balance and composure the boy sagely remarked, "Daddy, I

hanged on all right." And the father replied, "Yes, you hanged on,

Sonny; and aren't you glad Daddy hanged on to you?" ("Choice Illus."

W.W. Clay pg.73-74)

A Hungarian girl was an immigrant on a ship entering the harbor of New

York. Of poetic nature, her soul for months had kindled with dreams

of the wonderful, free, noble America. But she was disappointed in

the rugged skyline of great buildings. She looked the other way and

saw only great dreadnaughts with torpedo boats and airplanes. "Is

this America?" the girl asked with a catch in her voice. "Yes,"

someone said, "these things represent the nation that is always ahead,

that never has been defeated." "But it is not America of which I

dreamed," she almost sobbed. She went to Philadelphia and found

employment. On Sunday someone invited her to Sunday school class

taught by a pleasant-faced, white-haired man. He spoke to her before

she left, and asked her of herself. She opened her heart to him and

told of her disappointment, that instead of finding the America of her

dreams, all she had seen was a coldhearted, grasping, sordid America.

He told her to keep on, to come to Sunday school and church, and

eventually she would find the America of her dreams, for they would

help her find its soul. The next Sunday she was not there. Before the

week was out, there was a tap on her door, and in came her

white-haired teacher, smiling but anxious, and found she had been

sick. He sat by her bed, read a beautiful psalm, and prayed with her.

After he had gone, her landlady came in and said, "Do you know who

your visitor was?" And when she said she did not, the landlady told

her that it was John Wanamaker, owner and manager of the largest

department store in America. He had been a member of the President's

cabinet, and yet took time to climb tenement stairs and extend a

heart of love and sympathy for a poor immigrant girl. She raised her

eyes to heaven and exclaimed, "Thank God! I have seen the soul of

America!" ("Choice Illus." W.W. Clay pg. 74-75)